Samwise Cycle Racing Newsletter
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Strong outpaces Magnier for first win of 2026 at Circuit Franco-Belge
Corbin Strong (NSN) claimed his first win of 2026 at the Circuit Franco-Belge on Wednesday, winning an uphill sprint to edge Anders Foldager (Jayco-AlUla) and Paul Magnier (Soudal-QuickStep) at the finish. Strong, who had posted podium finishes at the Belgian race in both 2023 and 2025, timed his effort to near-perfection thanks to pace-setting from teammate Riley Sheehan in the closing kilometres. ‘I had good legs and I like this race,’ Strong said after taking the win. The result marks the first victory of the season for both Strong and NSN.
Sources: CyclingNews
Simmons wins Auvergne stage 4 from 10-rider break as peloton falls short
Quinn Simmons won stage 4 of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in Montrond-les-Bains on Wednesday, holding off the peloton as part of a 10-rider breakaway that the sprint teams could not reel in. Simmons took the sprint from the lead group ahead of Finn Fisher-Black and Mattéo Vercher, with the bunch arriving moments later. Wout van Aert salvaged some consolation by winning the field sprint to finish 11th on the stage. GC leader Alex Baudin retained the yellow jersey as the breakaway stage left the overall standings unchanged heading into stage 5 on Thursday.
Sources: CyclingNews
‘I think I punched my ticket’ — Simmons confident stage win earns Tour de France start
After his stage 4 victory at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Quinn Simmons expressed confidence that the result would secure him a Tour de France start. ‘I think I punched my ticket,’ Simmons told reporters. CyclingNews described the American as ‘confident’ the stage victory ‘will earn him a fourth Tour de France start.’ The win came as Simmons led the 10-rider breakaway to the finish in Montrond-les-Bains ahead of the pursuing peloton. His team has yet to formally confirm TdF selection, but Simmons said Wednesday’s stage win made his case for the race.
Sources: CyclingNews
‘A bit disappointing’ — worrying signs for Tour de France as Van Aert struggles continue
Wout van Aert’s form ahead of the Tour de France is raising concerns after another difficult stage at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes on Wednesday. ‘It is a bit disappointing, we are honest about that,’ van Aert said after stage 4. CyclingNews reported ‘worrying signs for the Tour de France as struggles continue’ for van Aert. IDL Pro Cycling noted that van Aert was pleased to win the field sprint in 11th place, calling it a bright spot in what has been a challenging week. Questions remain about whether van Aert can rediscover his best form ahead of the Tour de France.
Sources: CyclingNews
Tyre blowout ends Watson’s breakaway on Auvergne stage 4: ‘This sport can be cruel’
Sam Watson (Netcompany-Ineos) crashed out of the leading breakaway on stage 4 of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes on Wednesday after a front tyre blowout with 39 kilometres remaining. Watson was part of the 10-rider lead group when the tyre gave way on a descent, sending him to the ground on a corner with visible injuries. He managed to remount his bike and finish the stage. ‘This sport can be cruel sometimes. Onwards and upwards,’ Watson said afterwards. The incident left him unable to contest the stage finish, which was won by Quinn Simmons from the remaining breakaway riders.
Sources: CyclingNews
‘One day, maybe’ — Fisher-Black just shy of the win again at Tour Auvergne
Finn Fisher-Black finished second in the stage 4 sprint at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes on Wednesday, edged out by Quinn Simmons in the closing metres at Montrond-les-Bains. CyclingNews described the result as yet another near-miss for Fisher-Black, noting he was ‘just shy of the win again’ — a phrase that suggests a familiar pattern of close finishes. ‘One day, maybe,’ Fisher-Black said after the stage. He crossed the line ahead of Mattéo Vercher in third, with the podium places decided among the lead breakaway group that had successfully held off the peloton.
Sources: CyclingNews
Round 4 of 2026 WHOOP UCI MTB World Series opens at Leogang in Austria
Round 4 of the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series opens today at Saalfelden-Leogang in the Salzburgerland region of Austria, with competition running through June 14. The event includes racing across four disciplines: short-track cross-country (XCC), Olympic cross-country (XCO), downhill, and enduro, according to the UCI’s official competition details. The 2026 edition marks the fourth round of the series, which has already completed three earlier stops in the season. Results from the Leogang event will contribute to the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series standings across each discipline for the season.
Sources: UCI
Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
GC after Stage 4
1. Alex Baudin (EF EasyPost) — +0:00
2. Kévin Vauquelin (Netcompany-Ineos) — +0:12
3. Oscar Onley (Netcompany-Ineos) — +0:12
Stage Winners
Stages 1–4
S1: Alex Baudin (EF EasyPost)
S2: Anthon Charmig (Uno-X Mobility)
S3 TTT: Visma-Lease a Bike
S4: Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek)
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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